Steam engine



1,494,994 W. E; CQWLING STEAM ENGINE I Filed March 21,?922 3Sheets-Sheet I'll-{Ill till-Ili May 20 1924,

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May 20, 1924. 3 1,494,994

w. E. COWLING STEAM ENGINE Filed March 21, 1922 3 Sheets-:Sheet 2 N) N U7/z ZZzLsE flowZz'igg I Iuwsuran.

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May 20, 1924. I 7 1,494,994 w. E. COWLING STEAM ENGINE Filed March 21.1922 3 Sheets-Sheet. 3

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UNITED STATES WILLIS E. COWLING, 0F BLUEFIELI), WEST VIRGINIA.

STEAM ENGINE.

Application filed March 21, 1922. Serial'No. 545,503.

To all whom it may concern.

Be it known that I, WILLIS E. CowLINe, a citizen of the United States,residing at Blue-field, in the county of Mercer and State of VVestVirginia, have invented Improvements in Steam Engines, of which thefollowing is a full and complete specification.

My invention is an improvement in locomotive steam engines and relatesmore especially to the valve-gear for the purpose of regulating theadmission of steam to the engine cylinder.

The main object'of my invention is to provide a simple, compact,economical and efi'ective valve-gear by means of which to not onlyregulate the admission of steam from the steam chest to theengine-cylinder for forward and reverse motion but also provide forcutting oil the supply of steam during certain portions of the stroke ofthe piston whereby to economize the use of steam in running thelocomotive by using the expansion of each charge of steam delivered toopposite sides of said piston, with provision for admitting a fullcharge at each stroke at the will of the engineer.

, A further object of my invention is-to provide a valve-gear mechanismfor the above mentioned purposes which consists of comparatively fewparts that can be readily installed in connection with the conventionaltype of locomotive steam engine, and that can be quickly adjusted or setby the operation of a single lever and when adjusted or set themechanism will operate automatically to out off steam to the engine-cylinder at regular intervals duringthe stroke of the piston inboth directions and in forward and backward movement of the locomotive.

These principal objects of my invention are attained in the presentinstance by providing the piston slide-valve in the steamchest withauxiliary piston-heads having openings through which the steam passes'to' the engine-cylinder and cut-offs to close said openingsatpredetermined intervals with respect to the stroke of the main piston.in connection with means for operating said cut-offs includin a peculiarform of valve adapted to be adjusted or set by the engineer of thelocomotive.

Other objects and advantages of my improved form of valve-gear forlocomotive engines will hereinafter appear in the specifications, andwhat I particularly claim as 7 my invention and desire to protect bLetters-Patent is specifically set forth 1n the appended claims. v

In the accompanying drawings:

Fig. 1 is a side view of a locomotive steam-engine showing theapplication of my improved valve-gear mechanism thereto.

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view to showthe slide-valve mechanismandmeans for operating the same.

Fig. 3 is an end view of the steam-chest and valve-gear mechanism, oneelement of the latter being in section. v

Fig. 4 is a detail view of the auxiliary piston-heads operating inconjunction with the pistons of the slide-valve Figs. 5 and 6 aresectional views on the lines 5 5 and 66 Fig.4.

Fig. 7 is a side view of the connected rotatable disks for closing theopenings or steam passages through the auxiliary piston-heads of theslide-valve.

Fig. 8 is a detail side view of the operating mechanism for theslide-valve, looking at the opposite side from that in Fig. 1.

Fig. 9 is a top view of said mechanism, parts at one end being brokenaway.

Fig. 10 is an enlarged side View of the operating valve with the outerplate removed to show the disposition of ports or steam passageshereinafter referred to.

Fig. 11 is a view of the inner side of the removed plate showing-theform of channels employed for. reversing thesupply of steam through'theports in the cover-plate.

Fig. 12' is a vertical sectional view through the operating valve.

Figs. 13 and 14 are, views of the meeting faces of the valve-casing andadjoining cylinder respectively.

Fig. 15 is a transverse sectional View through the operating valve. 1

Fig. 16 is a detail view of the hollow plug of the operating valve.

Fig. 17' is a sectional view on line 17-'17 Fig. 12-...

Fig; 18 is a vertical sectional view illustrating a'modification of theinvention.

Like numerals of reference indicate like parts in all the views of thedrawings.

connected in the usual manner to one of the the inlet and exhaust portsover the comnunicating ports to regulate the admission of steam toeither end of the engine-cylinder at one side and the other of thepiston and to exhaust from said cylinder, alternately, as will beunderstood. The piston slide-valve is operated by a piston .33 workingin a-cylinder 34 bolted to the forward end of the steam-chest, steambeingsupplied to and exhausted from this cylinder, in the operation ofthe piston, by means of a special form of valve hereinafter described.

In the present instance the operating piston 33 and slide-valve pistonheads 31 32 are connected by a tubular rod 35 to which they are keyedand also secured by nuts 36 threaded on the opposite ends of saidtubular rod, and to prevent this tubular rod and piston heads fixedthereon from turning a set-screw'38 is threaded through the bearingportionat the rear end of cylinder 34 to engage ina longitudinal groove39 in the tubular rod; steam-tight joints being formed between thesteam-chest 26 and cylinder 34 by means of a packingegland 40.

In carrying out my invention I provide the piston slide-valve witha pairof auxiliary piston-heads 41 '42 located between the pistonl 1eads .3132 a slight distance there from respectively and keyed on the tubularconnecting-rod 35, saidauxiliary pistonheads being spaced apart to workat opposite sides of the steam-inlet 27 and thereby receive live steambetween them at all times. These auxiliary piston-heads are providedwith openings 43 through them to permit the passage of the steam to theports 29 30 according to the position of the main piston-heads 31 32with which they 0 erate in conjunction and by means of whic the supplyof steam to the engine-cylinder may be cutoff at predeterminedintervals, as hereinafter explained. To close the openings 43 r I employdisks 4445 working against the inner faces of the auxiliary piston-heads41;

42 to cover said openings and provided with corresponding openings 46adapted to register with the aforesaid openings 43 when said disks areturned, and for the purpose of turning said disks in unison and to pro.-vide for closing the openings in one pistonhead when those in the otherare open the said disks thus connected being operated by a rod 48 in thetubular connecting-rod beyond' the forward end of which it projects onthrough the head 34 of the cylinder 34 to receive an operating-lever49,the manner of operating said lever being hereinafter exconnecting-rod35 it is provided with a keyl way or groove 48 to receive a keyor'setscrew 49 connecting the lever to said operating-rod. To provide atight joint between the cylinder 34 and steam-chest 26 Where the rods 35and 48 pass through the inner end of said cylinder there is apacking-gland 51, and to protect the outer end of rod 48 where itprojects beyond the lever 49 a protecting-cap 52 is bolted to a lateralboss 34 on the cylinder-head 34*, interposed blocks 53 being used atopposite sides of the operating-lever.

As will be understood the reciprocating slide-valve in the steam-chestis operated by the piston 33 directly connected to the rod 35 andreceiving steam at its opposite sides alternatelythrough ports 54 55(Fig. 12) communicating with a valve 56 mounted on the cylinder 34, thesupply and exhaust being controlled by a slide-valve 57 working oversaid ports and operated'by one of the drive-wheels of the locomotive, asusual, through the medium of connecting-rods 58 59 and interposed lever60. The lever is supported by a bracket-arm 61 at the upper end of a.support 62 bolted to a ring 63 on the housing 25 which. encloses theslide 23. Steam is supplied to the operating-valve 56 through a centralport 64 in the top of the valve-casing, and the exhaust is through ports65 65. at or near the opposite ends of said valve-casing. Bythis'arrangement the controlling slide-valve 56 is operated by thelocomotive automatically to admit steam into the cylinder 34 for theoperation of piston 33 to correspondingly move the slicleevalve in thesteam-chest, and in order to provide for reversing the engine and moreespecially to provide for cutting off the admission of steam duringcertain portions of the strokes of the main piston there is in thepresent instance a peculiar construction of valve mechanism controlledby the operation of a lever and which cooperates with the auxiliarypiston-heads 41 42 in the steam-chest by opening and closing theopenings therethrough.

By reference to Figs. 10 to 16, inclusive,

showing details of the controlling valve and connections the particularconstruction and arrangement of this mechanism of my improved valve-gearwill be understood from the following description thereof.

7 In the present instance the valve-casing 56 is provided with arotatable hollow plug or bushing 66, preferably tapered and fitting intoa corresponding bore in the valve-casing to provide a close fit, thesaid hollow plug or bushing having a straight bore for the workingtherein of the slide-valve 57 and a reduced extension or stem 67 at itsforward end projecting through the head ;of the valve-casing to receivean operatinglever 68 by which the plug or bushing is turned. The stem 67has an axial opening therethrough for the passageof the valve operatingrod 58, and of course suitable packing glands, as 69 70 (Fig. 10), maybe provided to prevent the escape of steam fro-m the valve. To admitsteam into the valve chamber or interior of the plug 66 the latter isprovided with two sets of inlet and exhaust ports 71 71 and 72 72respectively, through the top of the same adapted to register with theaforementioned ports 64 65 in the top of the valvecasing, the ports 71and 71 as well as the companion ports 72 and 72 being spaced apartslightly so that movement of the plug or bushing to intermediateposition will close the inlet and outlet ports 64; 65.

To provide for reversing the engine by changing the supply of steam tocylinder 3 in which operating piston 33 works, that is to say bychanging the admission of steam through the ports 54 55 for operatingpiston 33 according to the direction of movement of the locomotive, thevalve-plug is provided with two ports 73 7 1 in the bottom thereofadapted to register with ports 75 76 or 75 76 according to forward orreverse movement of the locomotive, which extend di rectly through thebottom of the valve-casing and communicate with channels 77 and. 78formed in the upper meeting surface of the cylinder 34 as continuationsof ports 54 55, whereby when valve-plug is turned to one position ports75 and 7 6 will connect by way of channels 77 and 78 to ports 54; and 55respectively and when turned to the other position port 7 5 alongside ofport 75, and port 76, alongside of port 76, connect by channels 78 and77, respectively, to ports 55 and 54, respectively; for when thevalvecasing 56 is bolted on cylinder 34- by bolts 78 passing through thebolt-holes 79 80 in these parts respectively port 75 will register withchannel 77 at 77, port 76 with channel 78 at 78 port 7 5 with channel 78at 78", and port 76 with channel 77 at 77 Asfabove stated, thisarrangement provides for controlling the admission of steam to thecylintier of the slide-valve operating piston 33 by turning valve-plug66 to the position required according to direction of movement of thelocomotive desired; for instance in forward motion ports 73 74 arebrought to register with ports 757 6 and inreverse or backward motionsaid ports 73 74; are brought to register with ports 7 5 76*, so thatthe direction of steam supply from the ports 73 and 74L is changed fromone end of the cylinder 34 to the other with relation to each port, itbeing understood of course that the piston valve 57 which works over theports 73 74 is connected to a drive-wheel of the locomotive andcooperates or has relative movement with the enginepiston.

The lever 49 operating the disks 4A 45 to open and close th ports 13 inthe auxiliary piston-heads 4142 constituting in the present instance apart of the slide-valve for the engine is actuated by a piston 81 (Fig.3) working in a cylinder 82 receiving steam at opposite ends throughpipes 83 84, and to provide for the operation of said piston 81automatically through the medium of the valve 56 when lever 58 is setthe pipes 83 84 are connected to said valve at one side thereof, and sothat this operation will correspond with the forward and reverse motionof the engine an arrangement of ports and channels similar to thatbetween the valve and cylinder 34, hereinab'ove described, is provided;that is to say, said pipes 83 84 connect with ports 85 86 through aface-plate 87 bolted to the side of the valve-casing, and said portsconnect with channels 88 89 in the inner side of the faceplate withwhich register two sets of ports 90 90 and 91 91 extending into thevalve to receive steam by way of two sets of ports in the adjoining sideof the hollow valveplug or bushing 66 which are brought into operationaccording to forward or reverse motion of the engine, with a pair ofports to place the piston 81 in right position in changm from forward toreverse and vice versa. 7 s will be noted by reference to Fig. 12 thereare two sets of ports 92 92- and 93 93 at one side of the valve plugwhich are adapted to register with the portopenings 90 90 and 91 91 inthe adjoining side of thevalve-casing but are spaced a slightly lessdistance apart than said portopenings (see Fig: 17 so that only one pairthereof will register at a time for forward or reverse motion-in thepresent instance ports 92 92 registering with portopenings 90 90 inforwardmotion and ports 93 93 with port-openings 91 91 in reverse. In thouter face of the rotatable valve-plug, and adjoining each port 92towards port 93, is a channel 94 beginning on a vertical line with pOItS92 93 and extending horizontally a short distance towards the adjoiningend of said plug to a port 941*, these ports 94 9 1 being therebyconnected with port-openings 90 90 when the valve-plug is turned toregister channels 94 94 with said port-openings. correspondingly, forreverse motion, there are channels and ports 95 95 adjoining ports 9393, and in order to place piston 81 in cylinder 82 in intermediateposition, holding the cut-offs so that the openings in the auxiliarypistons of the slide-valve are half open, I provide between the pairs ofchannels 94- and 95 a pair of channels 96 96, also beginning on avertical line with ports 92 93 but extending towards the center of thevalve-plug and connecting with ports 96". All these ports in the side ofthe hollow valve-plug for the operation of piston 81 to actuate thecut-offs 44 45 on the auxiliary piston-heads of the engine slide-valvereceive steam from between the heads of spool-valve 57 by way ofinlet-port 71, and exhaust through outlets 72 72 on reciprocation ofsaid valve 57, as will be under stood, with the exception of ports 96which receive steam constantly from said spoolvalve-the othersalternately on the stroke of the spool-valve. It will be noted, also,

" that ports 92 93 and 94 95 are located with respect to the ports '7374 delivering steam to cylinder 34 so as to operate successively aftersaid ports 73 74 are uncovered alternately on stroke of the spool-valve57; and that when either port 92 or 94 is brought 'to register withports 90 90 through. the

valve-casing all the other ports are closed,

the same being true with respectito ports 93 95 when either is broughtto register with ports 91 91, and likewise with respect to ports 96 96,the latter registering with either ports 90 90 or 91 91 on the throw oflever 68 to its fullest extent in either direction. In the operation ofthis part of the valve-gear on forward motion of the engine a fullcharge'of steam for each stroke of the engine-piston 21 will be suppliedto engine-cylinder 20 from the steam-chest through openings 43 in theauxiliary piston heads, 44 45 and ports 29'30 alternately as thepiston-heads 31 32 operated by piston 33 uncover said ports, and whenthe engins-piston gets its full stroke in either direction spool-valve57 having previously uncovered port 75 or 76 to actuate aforesaid piston33 now uncovers ports 92 92 admitting steam into one end of cylinder 82and exhausting from the other end for operation of piston 81 to actuateconnecting-rod 48 to close the auxiliary piston-head through which steamhas passed and open the other auxiliary piston-head for supplying steamto the other-end of the engine-cylinder on movement of the pistonslide-valve in the opposite direction.

The auxiliary piston-heads in connection with the cut-offs thereforeprovide for cutting off the steam to the ports 29 3O irrespective of theslide-valve piston-heads 31 32, and thereby provide for cutting 05 theports 90.

te e 4:

supply of steam before the end of each stroke of the main piston 21, asfor instance on quarters; this operation being efl'ected by the engineermoving thelever 68 to turn the cylinder 82, likewise with respect to"ranged with respect to the stroke of spoolvalve 57 to cut off thesupplyof steam to the engine-cylinder at any desired interval The ports94 94 maybe ar- 7 or positionof slide-valve, and consequently additionalports'may be added to vary the interval.

To connect both ends of the engine-cylim' der 20 with the outlets 28 28from the steam-chest when the engine is drifting and the slide-valve atrest, as for instance in the 9 position shown in Fig; 2 of the drawings,I provlde the inner side of each piston-head 31 32 with plates or disks97 which are at. i

ated; but when the engine is drifting the r cut-offs on the auxiliarypiston-heads are turned to close the piston-head, as 42 (Fig. 2),through which steam might pass to the engine cylinder, the operationbeingaccomplished by the engineer manipulating rod 101 to so positionlever 68 of the valve 56 that the rotatable sleeve in said valve willconnect the ports 85 and 86 with the ports leading to the auxiliarycylinder 82'by way of the pipes 83 and 84. 1

The construction and operation of my im proved valve-gear will beunderstood from the foregoing description in connection with theaccompanying drawings, and it will be noted that the mechanism can beapplied to a conventional type of locomotive engine at comparativelylittle expense, the installation of the same dispensing with a number ofas cylinder 82, may be hushed, and the cylinders 34 82 cushioned attheir ends, in the customary manner;

In Fig. 17 of the drawings I have shown a modification adapting thevalve-gear for use in connectionjwith a low-pressure en'- gine, in whichinstance the auxiliary piston-heads and cut-cits are eliminated andconsequently the mechanism for operating the same also dispensed with;there being merely the reciprocating slide valve with the heads 31 32and operating piston '33, the latter being operated from thecontrol-valve as for forward and reverse motion through operation oflever 68, but in this instance the rotatable valve-plug 66 is not, ofcourse, provided with any of the ports at the side thereof.

Having described my invention, 1 claim:

1. A valve-gear for steam-engines comprising piston-heads, operating ina steamchest with relation to the ports leading to the engine-cylinder,auxiliary piston-heads located between the aforesaid piston-heads toreceive the live steam between them and having openings for thepassageof the-steam tothe aforementioned ports, closures for said openings, andmeans for operating said closures atpredetermined intervals wlthrelation to the stroke of the piston.

2. A valve-gear for steam engines comprising piston-heads operating inthe steamchest with relation to the ports leading to theengine-cylinder, auxiliary piston-heads located between the aforesaidpistonheads V to receive live steam between them and having openings forthe passage of the steam to the aforementioned ports, disks rotatableagainst the faces of .the auxiliary pistonhcads to close the openingstherein, and means for operating said disks at predetermined intervalswith relation to the strokes 3. A valve-gear for steam enginescomprising piston-heads operating in the steam chest with relation tothe ports leading tothe engine-cylinder,, auxiliary piston-heads locatedbetween the aforesaid piston-heads to receive live steam betweenthem andhaving openings for the passage of the steam to the aforementionedports, disks rotatable against the faces of the auxiliary piston-heads,means for operating'said disks, and a valve controlling the operation'ofsaid means;

LA valve-gear for steam engines comprising piston-heads operating in thesteam chest with relation to the ports leading to the engine-cylinder,auxiliary piston-heads 10- cated between the aforesaid piston-heads toreceive live steam between them and having openings for the passage ofthe steam to the aforementioned ports, disks for closing the openings inthe auxiliary piston-heads, an operating-rod connected to said disks,and a piston operating in a cylinder and connected tothe rod; togetherwith a valve controllin the admission of steam to the last mentionecylinder.

5. A valve-gear for steam engines comprising a tubular connecting-rodcarrying the main piston-heads of the slide-valve in the steam-chest,auxiliary piston-heads v10- cated on the connecting-rodte'tween the mainpiston-'headsto receive live steam between them and having openingsforthe passage of steam to the ports leading to the engine-cylinder,disks for closing the openings connected by a sleeve on the tubularconnectingrod, a rod in thetubularconnecting-rod connected to the sleevefor operating the disks, and means for'operating this'rod atpredetermined intervals with relation to the strokes of theengine-piston. V

,6. A valve-gear for steam engines comprising a tubular connecting-rodcarrying the main pistonrheads ofthe slide-valve in the steam chest,auxiliary piston-heads 10 cated on the connecting-rod between the mainpiston-heads to receive livesteam between them and having openings forthe passage of steam to the ports leading into the ends of theengine-cylinder, disks for closing the openings connected by a sleeve onthe tubular connecting-rod, a rod in the tubularconnecting-rodfl"connected to the sleeve for operating the disks, anoperating piston connected, to this rool, a"cylinder in which saidoperating piston works, and a valve for supplying steam to thecylinden-[7. A valve-gear for steam engines comprising a tubular connecting-rodcarrying the main piston-heads of the slide-valve in the steam-chest,auxiliary piston-heads located on the connecting-rod: betweenfthe mainpiston-headsto receive livesteam between them and having openings forthepassage of steam to the ports leading into the ends of theengine-cylinder, disks for closing the openings connected by a sleeve onthe tubular connecting-rod, a rod in the tubular connecting-rodconnected to the sleeve for operating the disks, a piston attached tothe tubular connecting rod for operating the slide-valve and working ina cylinder beyond which'the rod for operating the disks projectsgaleverattached to said projecting end of the rod, a piston 'working in acylinder and connectedto thelever, and a valve controlling the supply ofsteam to said cyl: inders.

8. A valve-gear for steam engines comprising a slide-valve in thesteamchest comprising main piston-heads, auxiliary pistonheads locatedbetween the same and having openings through which live steam passes tothe ports leading into the ends of the engine-cylinder, closures for theopenings, and means for operating said closures at predeterminedintervals with respect to the strokes of. the engine-piston; togetheropenings throiigh themain pistoii-headsand springactuate d platescovering said opemngs, substantially as shown and for the purpose setforth.

9. A'valve-gear' for steam engines compris ing a tubular connecting-rodcarrying the main piston-heads of the slide-valve in the steam-chest,auxiliary piston-heads located on the connecting-rod between the mainpis-r ton-heads to receive live steam between them and havingopeningsfor the passage of steam to the ports leading into the ends of theengine-cylinder, disks for closing saidiopen ings connected by a sleeveon the tubular rod, a' rod rotatable in the tubular rod and connected tothe sleeve for operating the disks, a piston attached to the tubularconnecting-rod for actuating the same and work- ;ing'in a cylinder,-a-valve mounted on this cylinder and having ports leading into the same,a rotatable sleeve within the valve having port-s arranged inpairsadapted to register with the aforementioned ports to provide forforward and reversemotion of the engine, a reciprocating piston in thevalve operated from a'drive-wheel of the locomotive, an operating pistonand auxiliary cylinder the piston being connected to the rod operat-'ing the disks for rocking said rod and disks to open and closethe'openings through the auxiliary piston heads, and means for supplyingsteam to the auxiliary cylinder by way of the aforesaid valve. I

' 10. A valve-gear for steam engines comprising a reciprocatingslidewalve comp-rise ing main piston-heads and auxiliary pistonheadstherebetween, said auxiliary piston heads receiving. live steam betweenthem and having openings through which the steam passes totheports'leading into the ends of the engine-cylinder, closures for theopenings I in the auxiliary piston heads, and means for operating saidclosures including a valve and cylinder and piston to which steam is admitted from said valve.

11.--A valve-gear for steam engines 'comprising a reciprocatingslide-valve having main piston-heads and auxiliary pistonheadstherebetween, said auxiliar pistonheads receiving live steam betweenthem and having openings through which the steam pa'ssesto the portsleading intothe ends of the engine-cylinder, closures for the openingsin the auxiliary piston-heads, and means for operating said closuresincluding a piston and cylinder, and a valve for supply ng steam to saidcylinder, said valve having a rotatable hollow plug with inlet andexhaust, ports and a series of ports co-operating with ports through thevalve-casing which connect with the cylinder.-

12. A valve-gear for steam engines comprising. a reciprocatingslide-valve having main piston-heads and auxiliary piston-headstherebetween, said auxiliary piston-heads receiving live steam betweenthem and having openings through which the steam passes to the portsleading into the ends ofthe enginecylinder, closures for the openings,in the auxiliary piston-heads, and means for operating said closuresincluding a piston and cylinder, and a valve for supplying steam to t Isaid cylinder, said valve comprising a casing, a tapered hollowvalve-plug rotatable therein and provided with ports through the sidesthereof and a' stem projecting through the casing, ports and channelsconnecting the valve with the cylinder, and aslide-valve located in thehollow valve-plug, together with means for turning said valve-plug.

13. A valve-gear for steam engines comprising a reciprocatingslide-valve having main piston-headsand auxiliary piston-heads P locatedbetween the same and having openings through which the live steam passesto theports leading into the ends of the engine-cylinder, closures forsaid openings,-

and means extending beyond the steam chest a operates over theportsleading into the ends of the enginecylinder and the otherset-receiving live steam between them and having openings through whichthe live steam passes to saidports, and means for closing said openings;at predetermined intervals with relation to the WILLIS COWLING.

strokes of-the engine piston.

